Multi-sequence switches for display devices and the like



June 18, 1957 M. A. CARTER MULTI-SEQUENCE SWITCHES FOR DISPLAY DEVICES AND THE LIKE Filed June 12. 1956' IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent MULTI-SEQUENCE SWITCHES FOR DISPLAY DEVICES AND THE LIKE Melvin A. Carter, New York, N. Y. Application June 12, 1956, Serial No. 590,870

11 Claims. (Cl. 200-11) This application relates to multi-sequence switches for display devices and the like, and is particularly directed to a sequence timer for energizing a number .of lamps or other electrical devices in predetermined pattern, and for de-energizing them in accordance with the same pattern.

Therefore, an object of this invention shall be to provide a rotary switch having improved means to connect a number of circuits in order and disconnect them in the same order.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved switch of the type described which will produce several different effects by being wired in different ways.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide in a device of the character described, improved casing and mounting means for the rotary switch.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a strong, rugged and durable apparatus of the character described, which shall be easy to operate, inexpensive to manufacture, and which shall yet be practical and eflicient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists of the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of invention will be indicated in the appended claims.

7 In the accompanying drawings in which is shown various illustrative embodiments ofthis invention:

Fig. 1 is a partly cut away side view of a device in accordance with the invention before wiring;

Fig. 2 is a partly cut away top plan view of the switch; Fig.- 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2 together with wiring diagram illustratingits use; I Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the switch plate taken 0 the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a spring connector used in the invention; and 1 Fig. 7 is a top cross-sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, numeral 10 indicates a switch embodying the invention and a motor assembly in which 11 designates the switch and 12 designates the motor. The motor may be of any ordinary electrical type having a casing 13 and an enclosed gear reduction assembly 14. A motor drive shaft 15 extends vertically into the switch housing case 16. The switch housing is square to accommodate the circular switch. The housing case 16 has a bottom wall 16a formed with a central opening 17, through which shaft 15 extends, a pair of opposite taller side walls 18, and a pair of opposed shorter side walls 18a. 5

A diagonal cross bar 19 having downwardly extending end flanges 20 which are bent on a diagonal fold line,

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shorter side walls 18a, and a pair of opposed shorter side 0 walls 24a fitting on the upper ends of the side walls 18.

Suspended from the diagonal cross bar 19 by means of a pair of rivets 25 and spacers 26 is a terminal plate 27.

Terminal plate 27 is formed with a central opening 28.

A metal ring grommet 29 is fitted around inside of circular hole 28 in the terminal plate 27. The terminal plate 27 is formed of a non-conductive material and is circular in shape. Terminal plate 27 is formed adjacent its periphery wall with a number of equiangularly spaced openings 30. The number of openings may be at least twice the number of circuits to be opened and closed by the switch device when in operation. In the illustration there are twelve openings to handle six circuits. Fitted to each opening 30 and extending downwardly therefrom is a spring connector or brush 31, illustrated in Fig. 6.

Fig. 7 shows a stripped wire end received in a grommet 32. The grommet 32 is fastened beneath hole 30 in the terminal plate 27 by means of a large eyelet or grommet 33 which passes through opening 30. Large grommet 33 has a flat lower flange 34 which clamps groomet 32 to the underside of plate 27. A rivet 35 having an enlarged rounded lower head 36 is placed with its shank in the through opening of grommet 33 with the head extending downwardly. The rivet 35 therefore may slide up and down in grommet 33. A coil spring 37 is positioned between flange 34 of grommet 33 and head 36 of rivet 35 thereby tending to force the rivet down. Each spring connector 31 is constructed in this manner. The downwardly forced head 36 of the spring connectors rest on one portion or another of a lower switch plate 37. p

The switch plate 37 is formed of a circular base plate 38 which is made of a non-conductive material. Base plate 38 is formed with opening 38a. Located underneath the base plate 38 at the center thereof is a socket 39 supplied with a set screw 40. The switch plate may be mounted on the upper end of motor shaft 15 by means of said socket 39 and secured thereto by means of said set screw 40. Thus when the motor is energized the plate 38 will rotate slowly because of the reduction gearing.

A conductive track 41 which is slightly larger than a half circle is attached to the top surface of plate 38 by means of rivets 42. The conductive track may be formed of copper, or any other suitable metallic material. conductive track 41 has a leading radial edge 43 and a trailing radial edge 44. A partly raised spring connector strip 45 is secured adjacent the leading edge 43 of the switch plate 37. The raised spring connector strip is constructed of a metal base strip 46 which lies adjacent the conductive track 41 and has an upwardly extending inward portion 47 and an inwardly extending horizontal portion 48. The metal strip 46 is secured to the base plate 38 by means of rivets 49. A string connector 50 is mounted, facing up, at the inward end 48 of the metal strip 46.

The spring brush or connector 50 is raised by the metal strip 46 so that it contacts the underneath flange or grommet 29. Connector 50 will remain in contact vwith grommet 29 at all times whether the switch plate 37 The slightly spaced therefrom. The other end of contact plate 51 extends downwardly through opening 38a. A tab 52 is formed at one side of contact plate 51 and is secured to plate 38 by means of rivet 53. Since the end of plate 51 which extends through opening 38a is bent dowry wardly, the other end adjacent plate 45 will be raised up above the level of plate 38 to a point slightly higher than strip 45.

As may be seen in Fig. 5, the spring connectors fastenedthrough openings 30 in terminal plate 27. extend downwardly therefrom abutting the switch plate 37. The terminal plate 27 is secured to a fixed mounting while the switch plate 38, is connected for rotation with the motor shaft 15 and will travel in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Therefore, the following sequence of actions will take place:

A spring connector at position a, will rest upon the switch plate base 38. As it passes to position b, the head 36 will be forced downwardly onto connector plate 51 as it passes opening 38a. At position 0, the head will ride up the connector plate 51 compressing a spring 37. At position d, the head 36 of the spring connector will snap down oil of connector plate 51 onto terminal strip 45 from which it will ride to position e, where the spring connector 31 will contact plate 41. The spring connector 31 will then ride on plate 41 until it reaches edge 44 where it will snap down onto the base plate 38 again, completing the cycle. 7

Since the conductive plate 41 covers slightly more than one-half the top surface of base plate 38, a total of six spring connectors will be engaged by itat all times during rotation. As the switch plate rotates in a clockwise direction, spring connectors moving towards the leading edge 43 of plate 41 will be engaged while plate 41 is disengaging switches at edge 44.

In Fig. 6, halt of the terminals 31 are connected to wires 54, 55, 56, 57, 8 and 59 The other six terminals 51 may be left unwired, In the position shown in Fig. 3, the spring connector 31 attached to wire 59 hasjust con? tacted plate 45, while the terminal connected to wire 54 is about to snap oif plate 41, Wires 59 and. 54 maybe connected to light bulbs 60 and 61, Each of the other wires may also be connected to a light; bulb (not illustrated). The other terminals of the light bulbs 60, and 61v are connected by wires to wire 62 which is one. line from power supply plug 63, A second line from plug 63 is w 4 wh s. c n ec to. gr mmet: 29., andther pl e he i hti c rcuit o a l terminals touchin P t v 41 s c h r ent w l pass hr u r mm 29 o p g c or, 50v nd. hrough. s rip. '5 or plate 41 to spring connectors, 31.

The motor 12; receives its power fronrlines 62 and 64 y app n em th w res 65., an 66, respectively.

When t switch Plate s n. the position. illustrated. in Fig. 6, all of the lighting lines 54 to 59-will beconnected. Therefore all of the electric lightswill be energized. As the switch plate rotat siin a counterclockwise direction the lights will be turned off. First the light is connected to wire 54 then the light is connected to wire 55, and.

will continue to do so until the switch; plate has rotated one-half turn, at which point all of the electric. lights will be disconnected and only the dummy springconnectors 31 will be in contact with plate 41 and; strip 45. As the switch plate 37 rotates another half-turn, the light bulbs will be energized in the same order until all are lit.

By varying the wiring to the spring connectors 31, many different lighting eifects may be achieved. The wires 54, to 59 may be fed out of box llrthrough rubber grommeted opening 67.

It will thus be seen that thereis provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

1 As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be de n h m od ments abo s orth, t. is to b understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limting sense.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A switch comprising a terminal plate of non-conductive material formed with a central contact, a plurality of spring brushes mounted on said terminal plate and angularly spaced from one another, a metal eyelet secured in an opening in said terminal plate for each of said spring brushes, said spring brushes each comprising rivets slidably mounted in an eyelet and having a head at its lower end, springs on said rivets interposed between the eyelets and the heads, a switch plate mounted for rotation about the axis of the terminal plate in spaced relation thereto, said terminal plate being made of nonconductive material, a track of conductive material on said switch plate adapted to engage the spring brushes: as said switch plate. is rotated, and a spring brush mounted on the switch plate and electrically connected to said track, and having means: for retaining engagement with said central contact as said switch plate is rotated.

2. The combination of claim 1, and ramp means on said switch plate to cause the spring brushes on the terminal plate to snap onto said track as said switch plate is rotated.

3. In combination, a case having a rectangular bottom wall, a pair of relatively longer opposed side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall, and a pair of opposed relatively shorter side walls extending upwardly from said bottom wall, a cover for said case comprising a rectangular top wall, a pair of opposed longer side Walls extending downwardly from the top wall and engaged within the shorter side walls of the case, and a pair of relatively opposed shorter side walls extending downwardly from said top wall and receiving the upper ends of the relatively longer side Walls of the case, a support within said case, a non-conductive terminal plate suspended from said support, said plate being formed with a central opening, an annular contact member fixed within said opening, a plurality of spring-pressed brushes slidably mounted on said plate, a metal eyelet secured in an opening in said terminal plate for each of said spring brushes, said spring brushes each comprisingrivets slidably mounted in an eyelet andv having a head at its lower end, springs on .said,rivets interposed between the eyelets and the heads, a, motor attached to the bottom wall and providedwitha motor shaft extending upwardly through an opening formedinsaid bottom wall, a switch plate fixed, to the motor shaft, said shaft being coaxial with the annular contact in the terminal plate, a con ductive, track on, said switch plate adapted to becontacted by said spring-pressed brushes assaid switch plate is rotated, a spring arrn fixed to the switch plate, and

means on the spring arm having continuous brushing.

engagement with said central contact on said terminal plate as said switch plate is rotated.

4. A device of the character described, comprising a case having a bottom wall, a pair of opposed upstanding relatively longer side walls extending upwardly therefrom, a pair of opposed relatively shorter side walls, eX.--

tending upwardly therefrom, a cover for said case comprising a top wall, a pair of opposed side walls extending downwardly from the topwall and received within said relatively shorter walls. of. the case, and a pair. of side walls extending downwardly from the topwall and receiving the upper end of saidrelatively. longer side Walls of said case, afdiagonal supportfixed to the insides of a pair of opposed, side walls ofjsaid case, a terminal plate fixed to said; diagonal, support in; spaced relation, there'- beneath, said terminal plate being made of non-electrically conductive material'aand beingformed with acentral opening, a grommet fixed at said central opening, said terminal plate being formed with a plurality of equiangularly spaced openings arranged in a circle, eyelets within said openings, grommets fixed to the underside of said plate by said eyelets for attachment to wires, rivets slidably mounted within said eyelets and having heads at their lower ends, springs on said rivets interposed between the heads and the eyelets, said bottom wall being formed with a central opening, a motor fixed to said case and having a shaft passing upwardly through the opening in the bottom wall, a switch plate fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith, a metal track fixed to said switch plate and adapted to have sliding contact with the heads on said rivets, as said switch plate is rotated, a spring arm fixed to the switch plate and having electrical contact with said track, and a spring-pressed plunger on said spring arm engaging the central grommet on the terminal plate.

5. The combination of claim 4, and a ramp fixed to said switch plate to cause the spring-pressed rivets on the terminal plate to snap onto the metal track as said switch plate is rotated.

6. A switch comprising a fixed terminal plate, a plurality of spring brushes fixed to said plate, a metal eyelet secured in an opening in said terminal plate for each of said spring brushes, said spring brushes each comprising rivets slidably mounted in an eyelet and having a head at its lower end, springs on said rivets interposed between the eyelets and the heads, a fixed contact on said plate, a movable switch plate, a conductive track on said switch plate adapted to have wiping contact with said spring brushes, and a spring arm on said switch plate adapted to have wiping contact with said fixed contact on the terminal plate.

7. The combination of claim 6, and ramp means on the switch plate to cause the spring brushes on the terminal plate to snap onto said conductive track as said switch plate is moved.

8. An electric switch mechanism comprising a support member, a terminal plate of non-conductive material fixed to said support member and formed with a circular opening in the center thereof, and with a number of openings about the periphery thereof, a metal grommet fixed in said center opening of said terminal plate and a number of spring connectors fixed to said peripheral openings and extending downwardly therefrom, a metal eyelet secured in each of said peripheral openings, said spring connectors comprising rivets slidably mounted in said eyelets and having heads at their lower ends, springs on said rivets interposed between the eyelets and the heads; a switch plate fixed for rotation directly beneath and coaxially with said terminal plate, the surface of said switch plate being formed partly of electroconductive material and partly of insulating material, a partly raised metallic strip secured to the surface of said switch plate, and a spring connector attached to the raised end of said metallic strip, said spring connector extending upwardly and contacting said central grommet in said terminal plate.

9. A housing, a support member located in said housing, a terminal plate of non-conducting material fixed to said support member, a metallic contact fixed at the center of said terminal plate, a number of spring brushes attached to said terminal plate and extending downwardly therefrom, a metal eyelet secured in an opening in said terminal plate for each of said spring brushes, said spring brushes each comprising rivets slidably mounted in an eyelet and having a head at its lower end, springs on said rivets interposed between the eyelets and the heads, a motor fixed to said housing, a switch plate within said housing, said switch plate being attached to said motor for rotation thereby, said switch plate being formed of non-conductive material, a metallic track fixed to the surface of said switch plate and positioned to be contacted by said spring brushes on said terminal plate, an upwardly extending metallic connector mounted on said switch plate in electrical contact with said metallic plate, said raised connector being in frictional contact with said metallic contact fixed at the center of said terminal plate.

10. An electric switching mechanism comprising a support means, a terminal plate fixed to said support means in spaced relation thereto, said terminal plate being formed of non-conductive material and having an opening formed at the center of said terminal plate, a metallic grommet fixed within said central opening of said terminal plate, a number of downwardly extending, spring actuated brushes fixed about the periphery of said terminal plate a metal eyelet secured in an opening in said terminal plate for each of said spring brushes, said spring brushes each comprising rivets slidably mounted in an eyelet and having a head at its lower end, springs on said rivets interposed between the eyelets and the heads, a switch plate means adapted to be rotated by a motor means, said switch plate means being mounted directly beneath sa-id terminal plate in spaced relationship therewith, a semicircular metallic track fixed to the surface of said switch plate, a metallic strip fixed adjacent said semi-circular plate, said metallic strip having a portion thereof extending upwardly at the center of said switch plate, a spring actuated connector means attached to the raised end of said metallic strip and extending upwardly for frictional engagement with said metal grommet, a contact means mounted on said switch plate at right angles to said metallic strip, said contact means having a raised end adjacent said metallic strip.

11. The combination of claim 10, wherein said switch plate is formed with an opening spaced from said metallic strip, said connector means being elongated and having a raised end adjacent said metallic strip and said opposite end of said elongated connector means extending downwardly through said opening in said switch plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,669,372 Despard May 8, 1928 1,909,664 Douglas May 16, 1933 2,518,628 MacIntyre Aug. 15, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 304,035 Great Britain Jan. 17, 1929 371,214 France Jan. 16, 1907 

